A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine revealed major variations in the amount of radiation used for all types of CT scans and the estimated cancer risk from the scans. According to the author, one in every 250 patients who undergo CT scans of the abdomen or pelvis will likely get cancer as a result of the radiation from the scan. Clearly, according to the study, patients who receive higher radiation doses are at greater cancer risk.
It’s recommended that standards for radiation dosage should be universal and tightly regulated because CT brain scans and pelvic or abdomen scans can be just as effective with lower doses of radiation as opposed to the current higher dosage used now.
Aside from cancer risks, other serious and quality-of-life threatening over radiation symptoms include:
- Brain damage
- Nausea
- Weight loss
- Hair loss
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Dizziness
- Vision loss
- Rash and hives, itchy skin, flaky skin
While the CT brain scan over radiation problem seems widespread, nobody except a few media outlets seem to be overly concerned. The Food & Drug Administration has not acted except to distribute an oblique warning letter.
What can patients and their families do who have been over radiated and suffer serious symptoms?
